Air conditioner support

[Miriam C.]

Well I spent the day shopping for stuff. Got the air conditioner and can't decide if it is too heavy to put on the shelf. The shelf is 3/4 ply and goes all the way across the camper. There is a 1x2 under the side part of the shelf too. Do I need more?



I would love it to go there so I can put water and a small grey water tank under the sink. The real sink bracket's epoxy is trying to dry in 80% humidity



Opinions on looks welcome too

My thanks.

[Tear Fan]

Miriam -

Not being a carpenter . . . NO, WAIT! . . . I am a carpenter! I would say that that 3/4" plywood will hold that puppy for keeps. The only thing I would suggest is to put a coat of something - spar varnish, polyurethane, something - on top of the plywood to protect against leaks and such. Rule Number One of physics - "Water always wins." p.s. Looks fine - and functional!

Marvin

[john]

Looks real good to me. The weight is not all in the middle of the shelf, but rather the edges. My A/C is on 1/2"

[Podunkfla]

Hi Miriam... Two things to consider... Most all window units mount via flange at the top and bottom. One could even support most or all the weight from the top flange... with a few good screws. The bottom flange (or step) is just to keep it from tilting in the window. So, you could minimize the weight on the shelf by hanging it from the top spar. The other thing to think about is that the condenser coil in the rear that dumps the heat extracted gets it's fresh air from the side vents and blows it out the back. So, you don't want to restrict the air flow into the side vents too much. You could cut an intake vent into the side? (this was covered in another thread and I drew a pic of one way a while back). Just my thoughts...
friend ~ Brick

[Miriam C.]

Thanks guys! Yes it will have a side vent and I will try to pan off the back and send it out it's own vent. I have one of the round power vent things somewhere. This unit has vents on both sides and the top. It cooled the tear off even without the window and hatch in. I have a feeling I am going to get cold. Truthfully it was blowing right at the bed when it was on the floor.

Water might win but not in my life time. I am going to epoxy the whole water area. Since the sink is in the same place. That should use the rest of my epoxy stash. Everything will get pollyied or varnished. The air will have a pan under and maybe a drain hole to the outside. (If I remember)

[WarPony]

Miriam, can you just drain the AC into the sink and out the bottom/back/wherever the sink drains too?

Jeff

[Mary K]

Hey, looks good.

You have room for another shelf above the AC now!!!


Mk

[Miriam C.]

Hey, looks good.

You have room for another shelf above the AC now!!!


Mk

Lots of room for a shelf above the air.

Jeff thanks---thats a good idea.

Oh yeah---If I drill through the tabs on bottom (L shaped) and put a couple of bolts will it hold it there?

[Dooner]

Good thinking. That should be a great place for it. Just get enough ventilation. And maybe a slight lean to the rear so most of the water will drain from the unit.
And in my opinion, I love the cold air blowing on me.

Great job.

[Miriam C.]

Good thinking. That should be a great place for it. Just get enough ventilation. And maybe a slight lean to the rear so most of the water will drain from the unit.
And in my opinion, I love the cold air blowing on me.

Great job.

Yeah, Mike is whining already because the way it was it would blow directly to the bed. Brrrrrr.

Now it will blow a couple feet above the bed. BRRRRRR. Remember cold air falls.

[WarPony]

Oh yeah---If I drill through the tabs on bottom (L shaped) and put a couple of bolts will it hold it there?

Are you talking about the tabs that hold the AC unit in a "traditional" window at home? If so, I would be afraid of the unit rocking back and forth and bending or breaking the tabs off. You know, as it is being hauled down the road. I have a Kenmore that looks just like it (probably the same thing just different labels) and have an idea.

Cut a small board the dimensions of the unit that will slide underneath the L-brackets. You can take the case off and attach the board to the bottom of the unit then screw the whole assembly to the shelf.

Looking at your pics, there is quite a bit of room around the sides also. I wonder if the jostling during a trip would put a twist on the L-brackets. Hmmm, maybe a couple of 1X2's at the front and back would do the trick, too? At least if water got underneath it, it would dry out easier.

Jeff

[Miriam C.]

wow I hadn't thought of that. I will look at using some wood under. Thanks for the idea. It is a kenmore. Got it today so I could be sure it would fit.